Liv. 2.28.1A. Verginius inde et T. Vetusius cōnsulātum ineunt.Then Aulus Verginius and Titus Vetusius enter on the consulship. Liv. 2.28.1Tum vērō plēbs incerta, quālēs habitūra cōnsulēs esset, coetūs nocturnōs, pars Esquiliīs, pars in Aventīnō facere, nē in forō subitīs trepidāret cōnsiliīs et omnia temerē ac fortuītō ageret.Then indeed the plebs, uncertain what kind of consuls they would have, held meetings by night, some on the Esquiline, some on the Aventine, so that they might not be thrown into confusion by hasty decisions in the forum and do everything rashly and at random. Liv. 2.28.2Eam rem cōnsulēs ratī, ut erat, perniciōsam ad patrēs dēferunt, sed dē eā tum cōnsulere ōrdine nōn licuit;The consuls, thinking this dangerous, as it was, report it to the senators, but it was not possible then to debate it in due order; Liv. 2.28.2adeō tumultuōsē excepta est clamōribus undique et indignātiōne patrum, sī, quod imperiō cōnsulārī exsequendum esset, invidiam eius cōnsulēs ad senātum rēicerent.so tumultuously was it received, with shouts on every side and the indignation of the senators that the consuls should throw on to the senate the odium for what ought to have been carried out by consular authority.
Liv. 2.28.3Profectō, sī essent in rē pūblicā magistrātūs, nūllum futūrum fuisse Rōmae nisi pūblicum cōnsilium;Surely, if there were magistrates in the state, there would have been no council at Rome except the public one; Liv. 2.28.4nunc in mīlle cūriās contiōnēsque, cum alia Esquiliīs, alia in Aventīnō fīant concilia, dispersam et dissipātam esse rem pūblicam.as it was, the state had been split up and scattered into a thousand senate-houses and assemblies, since some meetings were held on the Esquiline, others on the Aventine. Liv. 2.28.4Ūnum herculē virum — id enim plūs esse quam cōnsulem — , quālis Ap. Claudius fuerit, mōmentō temporis discussūrum illōs coetūs fuisse.One man, by heaven — for that was more than a consul — such as Appius Claudius had been, would have broken up those gatherings in a moment. Liv. 2.28.5Correptī cōnsulēs cum, quid ergō sē facere vellent, nihil enim segnius molliusve, quam patribus placeat, āctūrōs, percunctārentur, dēcernunt, ut dīlēctum quam ācerrimum habeant: ōtiō lascīvīre plēbem.When the consuls, thus rebuked, asked what then the senators wanted them to do, for they would act with no more slackness or softness than the senators pleased, the senators decree that the consuls should hold the levy as rigorously as possible: the plebs was running riot from idleness.
Liv. 2.28.5Dīmissō senātū cōnsulēs in tribūnal ēscendunt;When the senate had been dismissed, the consuls mount the tribunal; Liv. 2.28.6citant nōminātim iūniōrēs.they call out the younger men by name. Liv. 2.28.6Cum ad nōmen nēmō respondēret, circumfūsa multitūdō in contiōnis modum negāre ultrā dēcipī plēbem posse;When no one answered to his name, the crowd, gathering round as if at an assembly, declared that the plebs could be deceived no longer; Liv. 2.28.7numquam ūnum mīlitem habitūrōs, nī praestārētur fidēs pūblica;they would never have a single soldier unless the public pledge were honoured; Liv. 2.28.7lībertātem ūnīcuique prius reddendam esse quam arma danda, ut prō patriā cīvibusque, nōn prō dominīs pugnent.liberty must be given back to each man before arms were given, so that they might fight for their country and their fellow citizens, not for masters. Liv. 2.28.8Cōnsulēs, quid mandātum esset ā senātū, vidēbant, sed eōrum, quī intrā parietēs cūriae ferōciter loquerentur, nēminem adesse invidiae suae participem.The consuls saw what the senate had instructed, but that none of those who talked so fiercely within the walls of the senate-house was present to share in their unpopularity.
Liv. 2.28.8Et appārēbat atrōx cum plēbe certāmen.And a fierce struggle with the plebs was clearly at hand. Liv. 2.28.9Prius itaque quam ultima experīrentur, senātum iterum cōnsulere placuit.So before they tried extreme measures, they decided to consult the senate again. Liv. 2.28.9Tum vērō ad sellās cōnsulum properē convolāvēre minimus quisque nātū patrum, abdicāre cōnsulātum iubentēs et dēpōnere imperium, ad quod tuendum animus dēesset.Then indeed all the youngest of the senators came flying to the consuls' chairs, bidding them resign the consulship and lay down the authority which they lacked the courage to uphold.